OUR QUESTIONS, HIS ANSWERS

Your first name is Tiqwai, but everyone calls you Tikey? That’s my nickname. I don’t know why, but they just started calling my dad that. I never asked my dad why, but I’m a junior.

You don’t mind being called Tikey? No.

All those beefy linemen are gone from last year’s team. You ran behind them and gained a lot of yards. Do you have to make your own holes this year? No, we have a new offensive coordinator in Darrien Fields. We have a new plan. I feel like our line is way faster than last year. We have more plays and can get more explosion. The ground and pound might be ehhh ... but the explosion and speed is going to be there. We can really run a spread offense now.

But is the line going to be the key to this season?

It’s going to be a real key. Younger guys have to step up. We have three seniors, but younger ones are going to have to step up.

You have over 3,700 yards rushing. By the time you’re done, did you know you could be only the fifth runner in WPIAL history to run for 7,000 yards? That would be a nice label on my name.

By any chance do you know who the leading rusher is in WPIAL history? Is it Rushel Shell?

Yes, from right up the road at Hopewell. He has 11,000 yards, so I don’t think you’re getting there, are you? That’s cool. I still have a state championship. He doesn’t.

Is it a big deal for you guys that your renovated stadium is now Heinz Field? Yes, that’s an honor. We really run Heinz Field. We’re there every year. Now, Acrisure Stadium is our second home. This Heinz Field is now our real home.

Is it the same as usual for this team. It’s state championship or bust? Exactly. We set the bar that high.

But is that fair to a high school kid? That’s exactly fair. That’s fair to Aliquippa kids.

Are you going to go see the Barbie movie? I already saw it. How was it? It was good. People might be surprised that Tikey Hayes went to the Barbie movie. Who’d you go with? I can’t say that [laugh].